SUMNER TRAM ACCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 5

SUMNER TRAM ACCIDENT

COMMISSIONER'S FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

OVERCROWDING AND EXCESSIVE SPEED.

The finding of Mr. S. E. M'Carttry, S.M., Commissioner appointed to inquire into the fatal tramway accident at Heathcote, Ohristchurch, on 15th May last, whe;h it trailer overtui'ned, is of general interest, particularly in regard to overcrowding. The Commissioner states, inter alia : "The tramway Traffic Manager by A series of calculations tried to convince me that fchfe tva-in was not overcrowded. This gentleman was not present at the accident, and hik theories are flatly coiftradiefceti by the motorm'aii, the conductor, and nio6t of the passenger witnesses. The evidencS of one or two witnesses who attempted to negative overcrowding, rightly analysed, corroborates overcrowding, and this overcrowding was such as not only to obstruct but actually to prevent ihe; motqrman from doing his duty. I have no difficulty in finding that the train was loaded with passengers beyond the limits of safety. . . I also find that the; practice of overcrowding is common, and is connived at by the Tramway, Board for .financial reasons." As regards speed Mr. M'Carthy states that the following1 facts' indicate the high speed at which the train was .travelling : (a)_ The lateral oscillation of the train prior to reaching the bridge; (b) the alternate running first on the north and then on the two south wheels; (c) the) dragging of the car for 24 feet on its side after power had been cut off and breaks applied. "I do . not for one moment find that the Tramway Boa-rd connives.at such a high rate of Speed as is here disclosed."

After dealing with other points the Commissioner proceeds : Two questions arise for consideration,' ' namely :—(a) What was the cause of the derailment; (b) should the derailment hayS necessarily caused trailer No. 58 to have overturned ?. Taking these questions in their, order, I have no doubt that the derailment was the joint result of three causes : (1) Defective track conditions; (2) presence Of a stont in the points; (3) the excessive Speed. Mr. M'Carthy says it was attempted to justify overcrowding by alleging that it was cpminon in Auckland, Wellington, and Drmediri. " A, practice,,which lends itself to the' happen: ing of fatal and serious accidents cannot h& justified hftcauMi it -is carried on in more than one place," Answering the several questions set put .in the order of reference, Sir. M'darthy finds as,follows : (a) The train at^He time of the"_ derailment was travelling at an excessive" rale, of speed. Trailer 58 did not jump the points, b'ii6 split them, owing to the presence of dn obstructing st&ne,' (b) each carriage of the train was loaded beyond the limits of safety; (c) the train was inadequately manned at the time- of the accident. . It had Only one conductor. It should have' had three; (d) There, was not an effective system of signalling', and : this.. delect was a factor amtributing to the,, overturning Of trailer No. 58; (c) the tramway track and permajieiit way were, apart from the defects indicated, in good order; (f) the time allowed by the timetable for the Christehurch-Sunitier section is insufficient if tMe motor-man is compelled to maintain an even speed of four miles an hour when passing through points, and to make'the customary stops <uid.reSuci> tioh of speed; (g) the. accident, w&s due partly to the negligence of the niotorman in driving at an excessive rate1 of speed, partly to the presence of the stone in tho points, which presence might have been unknown to the motoi'man when approaching1 them, atid. partly to overcrowding, undenhaiinihg, and an inefficient signal system; (h) there are no .other, causes which will account for the accident." Included among the recommendations is the following :—"I would suggest .that each, car be licensed to carry a definite number of sitting and standing passengers, the latter to be located in the aisles at the discretion of the conductor, and the number, licensed to be printed in conspicuous places on each vehicle" The Cominissiririer cannot recommend the cancellation of th§ motorman'f license, and concludes : "In my opinion, the board is more culpable than he."